Think like an Indian


Wajahat S Khan July 19, 2010

The verdict is out: Pakistan’s latest ‘peace talks’ with India were anything but peaceful. Furthermore, insiders say that nobody really ‘talked’ either — rather, everyone ‘talked over’ each other. The ending was a bout between two immaculately dressed foreign ministers – one a verbose South Punjabi and the other an insipid South Indian - and a very cold departure from a very hot Islamabad by some very frigid Hindustanis.

But while Pakistan’s news cycle has quickly adjusted back to fake degrees and the charge of the Hillary brigade, Indian journos have refused to let go of their  ‘Agra 2’ — the new version of a similar breakdown in 2001 when then president Musharraf visited the Taj and buried Vajpayee’s charms right next to Shahjehan’s beloved Mumtaz Mahal. Thus, an insight into what our friends on the other side are thinking is key.

Questioning peace, The Himalayan mulls: “While the Indian government is keen to mend fences with Pakistan, it will not compromise on its ‘core concern’, which is the repeated use of terror.... India has grown at over eight per cent after Mumbai and it will continue to grow ‘despite Pakistan’, the clear implication being that Pakistan needs the dialogue process more than India does.”

Blaming Qureshi, the Indian Express recalls: “Qureshi was not happy with an open-ended language like [talks would resume] “at an appropriate time” and wanted India to specify a timeline. India, on its part, said it was in no position to provide a timeframe as the progress and pace are linked to the Mumbai attacks investigation…. There is also a sense of concern here at the way Qureshi conducted himself and his ‘petulance’ that left the Indian side surprised.” Analysing Pakistan’s establishment, the Hindustan Times alleges: “When the prime ministers met in Thimpu, Gilani indicated he had the full support of his military…. When the foreign ministers of the two countries met in mid-July, the men in khaki were opposed… developments, say sources in both countries, led them to change their minds. The first development was the political resurgence of President Asif Ali Zardari. The Pakistan military has sought to marginalise him…. The military’s view about the dialogue with India had shifted from support to strong doubt. One reason, say sources in Pakistan, was the establishment’s view that a successful dialogue with India would only add another feather to Zardari’s cap.”

But, batting for Pakistan, the Bangalore Mirror cautions: “It’s so easy to blame Pakistan…. But if the trust deficit between India and Pakistan has to be seriously addressed then India should be willing to accept that ‘composite dialogue’ is not a rhetorical ploy but a reflection of how all conflicts in South Asia are basically interlinked…. Like India in Kashmir, Pakistan has bled profusely in Afghanistan. It has a right to be concerned about the future of that country…. Subsequently, India has invested heavily in Kabul.... We remain the venal Karzai regime’s main backer. We have four consulates in Afghanistan and have given its government $1.2 billion in aid, a whopping sum for a country that is 99 per cent Muslim and with which we have no common border. We have also put up their new parliament building and chancery, and have helped train the Afghan army. In terms of one nation’s special interests that subvert another nation’s special interests, how is our involvement in Kabul different from that of Pakistan in Kashmir?”

Finally, sounding the doomsday alarm, the Hindustan Times declares: “‘In an unstable Pakistan the government and the army will become even more dependent upon China,’ the New Delhi-based Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses has warned… [The 156-page report] said: ‘… agencies in Pakistan will continue using terror as a tool of pressure against India an increasing unstable Pakistan may manifest in several ways — Lebanonisation (being divided into several small pockets) or even face disintegration… The army will get more aggressive as it finds itself fighting to save Pakistan: and its own identity. This could result in more sabrerattling and brandishing of the nuclear threat…. Within Pakistan, the society will get fragmented. The ethnic, linguistic and provincial fault lines may get accentuated. Insurgency in Balochistan might get worse. Sindh and NWFP will not remain unaffected. They will challenge Punjab's dominance.” Thanks for playing ‘Think Like An Indian!’ Your prize: a different perspective. Come back soon.

Published in The Express Tribune July 20th, 2010.

COMMENTS (36)

san | 13 years ago | Reply Of the 47000 dead in Kashmir in last 20 years of insurgency. 5000 are roughly security forces and 20000 were terrorist mostly Pakistanis trained and send across by ISI. 2000 were roughly civilians killed by security forces or they died in crossfire with terrorists. Rest 20000 civilians were killed by the terrorists. You say a just cause for independence. First Kashmir is multiracial, multiehnic, multicultural society just like rest of India. How you can justify a majority community with a violent minority be the voice of all Kashmiries. A insurgency has its life of 15-20 years when it ebbs. A terrorist when picks a gun and starts killing people losses all its humanity and becomes just like an animal indulging in debauchery, loot and murder. The rural population in Kashmir having been the victim these terrorists have turned against them and report there movement to security forces who eliminate them. The human right violations committed by these terrorists are hundred times more than that of security forces as there is no command and control,no punishment leading to them being law to themselves. The myth being spread by Pakistani propaganda that 750000 troops are being used to suppress the Kashmir struggle is totally false. Around 70000 CRPF along with local police numbering 32000 are deployed for policing duty. Around 30000 RR of Indian army is deployed for jungle warfare in Hinterland against terrorist. Around 250000 IA deployment is against external aggression of which 20000 troops are deployed on LOC to check infiltration from Pakistani side. Further CRPF will move out of Kashmir Valley with proposed recruitment of 30000 additional local population into Kashmir Police. It is less than half of the propaganda of 750000 troops. The same is with death toll. It is just doubled with all lies. An armed terrorist dies in battle,he is an innocent civilian and all the murders committed on civilians by the terrorist are blamed on security forces. It was in Pakistani establishment mind that the situation will explode just like in former east Pakistan but Indian army is disciplined and professionally trained army and not like Pakistan army which killed half a million Bengali's in East Pakistan in the worst genocide after second world war and doing again in Kashmir and Afghanistan through their suicidal covert terrorist war of which Pakistan itself is paying a terrible price. In short Pakistan army is the worst enemy of Muslims as their policies have killed more Muslims than anyone else which they describe as martyr for a just cause. Remember a violent society leads to its own self destruction. All revolution are false. A currupt system gets replaced by a even more currupt system. Everyone can talk about his rights but for that you got to respect other persons rights. The kind of mob voilence and frenzy being witnessed in Kashmir today, in the first place 20 years back led to ethenic cleansing of Kashmiri Pandits. If you want respect for your rights the first thing you got to do is live and let live. Or just fight like animals upsurping other persons land, rights etc. and push youself into stone age like Taliban.
Anju | 13 years ago | Reply Phew...pow wow..enlightening to say the least. I need Peace..
VIEW MORE COMMENTS
Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ